The San Francisco 49ers continue to move past multiple injuries and are among the best teams in the NFL.
A lot of that has to do with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who has found ways to patch up that unit and keep opposing teams out of the end zone.
Others have gushed about Mac Jones’ strong play replacing injured Brock Purdy at quarterback, and rightfully so, but neither of them is the team’s MVP.
Running back Christian McCaffrey has not only been their best player, but he’s making NFL history.
“Normally, we might not blink at McCaffrey churning out yards at this rate. He’s done it before. Coming off an injury changes the perception. If he keeps up this pace, McCaffrey would be the first player in NFL history to lead the league in scrimmage yards the season after missing 12-plus games the previous year, per NFL Research. The Niners back is the second player in NFL history with 450-plus rush yards and 450-plus receiving yards in the first seven games of a season, matching only Marshall Faulk’s 2000 season. Faulk won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award that year,” Kevin Patra wrote.
While there’s absolutely no doubt that he’s one of the best offensive players of all time, and no stat line seems out of reach, McCaffrey’s health is always a major concern.
He has struggled to stay on the field, including last season when he was limited to four games by multiple leg injuries.
But as long as he’s on the field, the Niners have a chance to do something special.
They have been one of the biggest surprises in the league this season, given all the injuries they’ve had to endure.
That speaks volumes about what McCaffrey is doing, whether it’s coming out of the backfield or lining up as a receiver.
NEXT: Insider Reveals Injury Update About Brock Purdy